Page 4 - Winter 2017 | Rochester Athletics News

Coach Profile

On the court with

Martin Heath

a professional squash career. A six-
time Scottish champion, he reached a
world ranking of No. 4 after joining the
Professional Squash Association world
circuit in 1993. He spent six years ranked
in the top 10 in the world as a player, then
several more as a TV commentator and
Squash magazine columnist. During that
time, Heath also worked as a private coach,
helping many athletes prepare for collegiate
competition.
Coaching, he felt, was a natural step for him.
It’s been a role he’s had at the University
of Rochester for 11 years. Along the way,
he earned his MBA at Simon. His academic
background, coupled with his professional
sports experience, adds to what he can offer
Martin Heath grew up in Oban, a small town
in Scotland. As sons of a physical education to his players, including leadership, team
teacher, he and his brother played every kind building, strategic decision making, and
of sport growing up, from golf to tennis to athletic development.
shinty. Yes, shinty, which he describes as “a His work has paid off. The squash team
really barbarian field hockey where you can has been earning accolades the past few
swing your club fully and there are always years. “Last year, we made it to the finals
two ambulances waiting.” Heath eventually for the first time,” he says. “We lost to Yale
settled on squash, a sport that he says is at the end, but this year we’ve already
“more friendly and fun” than others. beaten them.” This year’s team recently
achieved a #1 ranking by the College
Heath also describes squash as a microcosm
of culture and diversity. “It originally came Squash Association for the first time in the
from the British Empire eons ago and has Yellowjackets’ 59-year history.
had a surge in popularity over the last 30 But Heath emphasizes the game isn’t
or 40 years,” he says. “It’s one of the most about just winning. “There are so many
widely played sports in the world and life lessons that come out of the game. We
is played in nearly 200 countries.” In the aim to provide a high level of play, build
last few years, Heath has coached players character under pressure, and encourage
hailing from more than 30 countries the right behavior and integrity—these are
including Japan, Mexico, Canada, El attributes players can really hone in this
Salvador, Italy, Iran, and India. sport.” He adds, “It’s about building lifelong
friendships, too. There are bonds built on
After earning a bachelor’s degree in
physiology and sport science from the the court that will last forever.”
University of Glasgow, Heath pursued